William Washington

William Washington (28 February 1752-6 March 1810) was a Brigadier-General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, most famous for his leadership of light dragoons.

Biography
William Washington was born on 28 February 1752 in Stafford County, Virginia, the second cousin of George Washington. Washington learned the Greek language and studied theology, but during the American Revolutionary War he took up arms with the Continental Army. Washington became a captain of the minutemen in 1775, and James Monroe served as his second-in-command. Washington and Monroe were both wounded at the Battle of Trenton, the only two "losses" for the Americans in the decisive victory, and he was later involved in skirmishes in New Jersey and then in the south from 1780 to 1781. Washington led some light dragoons at the Battle of Cowpens against the British cavalry commander Banastre Tarleton, and he later assisted Nathanael Greene's race to the Dan River against British general Charles Cornwallis. His final battle was the Battle of Eutaw Springs, and he was unhorsed, bayoneted, and taken prisoner, being held in Charleston until the end of the war. Washington died at the age of 58 in 1810.